NEWS

State Senator outraged over little girl's death

Senator Michael Padilla had a strong reaction to the brutal death of Victoria Martens. He said the head of CYFD needs to be suspended so the entire department can be investigated.

State Senator outraged over little girl's death

Updated: 8:46 PM MDT Sep 15, 2016

Share

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —

Senator Michael Padilla had a strong reaction to the brutal death of Victoria Martens. He said the head of Children, Youth and Families Department needs to be suspended so the entire department can be investigated.

"I'm calling on the governor to suspend Secretary Monique Jacobson while we conduct this independent investigation,” Padilla said.

Padilla was very vocally against Jacobson taking over in March of last year. He said it is not a political issue, but that a review is necessary.

Gov. Martinez also shares the senator's outrage over Victoria’s death.

“The mother of this child was supposed to be there for her child. The mother was not there. She was bringing men into that home. I mean, when I read that story, it made me sick,” Martinez said.

She's calling for the FBI and state police to step in to prevent people from committing cyber-crimes against children, like the men that Michelle Martens reportedly found online to have sex with her daughter. But Martinez said she's confident in the leadership at CYFD.

“Absolutely, there is no reason for cabinet secretary Monique Jacobson to step down, at all,” Martinez said.

The governor said she will provide whatever assets state police need to catch child predators.

But Padilla, who grew up in New Mexico foster homes, said CYFD needs a top to bottom review.

“Today, I am calling on an independent, a fully independent investigation of CYFD,” Padilla said.

While Padilla is calling for big changes, he said that there is plenty of blame for the situation to go around.

“I want to say that this is everybody's responsibility, from an economic and poverty issue, all the way through to the staffing levels at CYFD,” Padilla said.